Mirror support



May 16, l961 E. w. slMoNs 2,984,440

MIRROR SUPPORT Filed July l, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 35 y INVENTOR.

L 34 24 BY May 16, 1961 Filed July l, 1957 E. W. SIMONS MIRROR SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent() MIRROR SUPPORT Elizabeth Wagg Sim'ons, 3,306 Rowan Road, Sedgeteld, Greensboro, N.C.

Filed July 1, 1957, ser. No. 669,359

z claims. (ci. 24S-2s) This invention relates generally to the class of supports and is directed particularly to improvements in supports designed for mounting framed bodies, such as mirrors, pictures or the like.

While the present invention may be employed effectively for mounting any type of frame or a body to be displayed or otherwise used, it is designed particularly for mounting mirrors upon dressers or other similar articles of furniture.

As is well known, mirrors are furnished in various sizes and shapes and when the same are to be positioned for use upon an article of furniture, such as a bureau, chiifonier, dressing table or the like, a means must be provided for securing the mirror in position so that such meanswwill not show or so that no material amount of the support will show from the front. While supports have been provided heretofore which can be alteredv or adjusted to fit mirror frames or other frames of different heights, such adjustable supports require a considerable amount of manipulation to get them properly adjusted.

It is accordingly a particular object of the present invention to provide a support for a mirror or the like which can be easily and quickly lengthened or shortened as may be desired to tit it to the height of the mirror frame and which can thenV be very easily tightened so that it will maintain its adjusted position effectively.

t Another object of the invention is to provide a support for a frame for a body of the nature of a mirror, picture or the like which embodies an elongate rigid member or standard adapted to be secured to the back of a dresser or similar article of furniture and which has associated with it a second elongate member which is extensible to be attached to one side of the frame after fixing the other side to and against the front of the standard.

More specifically the invention is directed to a supchanneled body having a fiat forward face and slotted at its rear side, with means in the lower end portion of the body for fixing it to a base structure such as a dressing table or the like, and other means for facilitating its attachment to the bottom portion of a frame and having at its opposite or upper end a longitudinally extensible second elongate member which is adjustably secured to the first member and which is Adesigned to be fixed to the opposite or top part of the frame to be supported.

A further object of the invention is to piivide a single elongate support of the general character above described which not only may be easily and quickly adjusted for length to accommodate it to frames of different sizes, but which will provide a rigidmounting which will not turn or have any movement after being secured to a base structure and to the frame which it is designed to support.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not conned to a strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified i port `for the purpose stated which embodies an elongate .50

2,984,440 Patented May 16, 1961 so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

vIn the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of the rear or back portion of an article of furniture and a mirror and showing one embodiment of the invention secured to the base structure and to the mirror;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation on an enlarged scale of the front or forward side of the support shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the support taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. l but showing another embodiment of support in rear elevation;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation on an enlarged scale of the second embodiment shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6 and on an enlarged scale.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the description will first be confined to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4. It is understood, however, that `the order of describing the embodiments in no way indicates the relative merits or values of the two embodiments as they both function with equal eifectiveness.

Referring particularly to Fig. l, the numeral 10 generally designates any conventional type of furniture upon which a mirror or other framed body might be mounted, as for example, this reference may designate a bureau, dressing table or the like, and it will be apparent that the view is of the rear of the article and the numeral 12 designates the top while the numeral 14 designates one of the-transverse back braces which is secured horizontally between the back corner leg posts 16.

. The numeral 18 generally designates a framed article such as a mirror or the like wherein the frame is made up of the top and bottom bars 20 and 21, respectively. and side bars 22.

The support shown in Fig. 1 and the succeeding Figs. 2, 43 and 4, embodies an elongate rigid channel member which is generally designated 23 and which would, of course, be formed of steel or other suitable metal. This first elongate member 23 is of rectangular cross section as shown in Fig. 4 and embodies a front wall 24, the integral side walls 25, each of which joins a narrow inturned flange 26 forming a part of a back wall which is longitudinally slotted. In other words, the flanges 26 are in spaced parallel relation, thereby providing the rear slot 27 which extends throughout the length of the member as shown in Figs. l and 3.

The wall portion 24 has formed therethrough a means for facilitating securing the member vertically to the back of the article 10, which means comprises a plurality of apertures 28 formed through the wall 24 and longitudinally of the central part thereof, and in the lower end portion of the member there are also means above the series of apertures 28 for facilitating attachment of the member to the lower bar 21 ofa frame, the last named means also comprising a series of apertures 29 extending longitudinally of the wall, as shown.

Extending into the channel member 23 from the upper end or that end remote from the apertures 28 and 29,

job, is also resilient so that it may be exed forwardly, as illustratedin Fig.V 3,to facilitateattachment` ofthe top end thereof to the top of the frame to be supported, after the lower part of the frame is secured to the first elongateV member-23 as shown* in VFig-3;'v M t" The second elongate member 30 yispositioned against the inner faces of the back-flanges 26and adjacent' to' the lower end of the bar 31 is an aperture32 for theextension through thetbar of thethreaded shankiportion 33 of a largeA flat headed screw; 34-the head'of which is designated 35. Asshown -in Pig. -4, the head ofV the' screw is of a width to span the slot 27 and on the inner side offthe second member 30 lor-of the bar-thereof the threaded shankl ofthevsc'rew is engaged in 'a suitable re*- silient vlocking nut such` as that generally designated 36 and which is preferably of the type known in"the trade as a Tinnerman nut;vv Y

The top end-of the front wall 24 of the rst elongate memberis provided with an aperture 37 andthe top end of the second elongatermember30 has an'aperture 38 therethrough. Y. These apertures obviously are for 'the' reception of securing elements, the aperture 38 being used when the member 30is extended while if thearticle to be supported is of such height that/it can be attached directly to the firstl member 23, then the secondk member 30 is slid down Yeither to a point where the aperture 38 lies below the aperture 37 so that a securingV element can be passed through aperture 37 into the article to besupported, or the'apertures 37 and 38 could bealigned and the securinglmemberA passed through both.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, where the second embodiment `ofthe support is -illustrated,`l the numeral 39 generally designates an article of furnitureJ while theV numeral 40 generally'designates the framed article whichthe support is:designed to maintain in desired position onthefunderlying base article 39; The

base article- 39 `and the 'supported article 40 are here` shown as the same as those illustrated in l=`ig.1-andAv designated respectively andA 18, and 'accordingly it 'is' not `believed `that a detailed description of the several parts thereof is Arequired to understand the application of the invention.

vThe 4second` support comprises, like the first, the elongate rigidzirst member 41 of channel form which embodies a flat front wall portion 42, side walls'43,A andspaced' the inturned back Wall flanges 44 which are-in edge relation toy form the slot 45.. I f

-The lowerpart of the member 41 is provided with means toV facilitate the attachment or securement of the 1' support to the back of the furniture article 39', which means is in the form of a multiplicity of apertures 46 formed through the wall 42V and extending lengthwise thereof.

Above the group of apertures 46 is a second group of apertures 47 which facilitatethe attachment of'the first member =41 of the support to the lowerpart or bottom bar, of the. frame `40.

The upper portion of the member 41 has the wall 42 thereof provided with the llong slot 48 which cooperates in the manner hereinafter set forth with the back slot 45 for maintaining inv longitudinally adjusted position" the upper and shorter'second elongate member which is generally designated '49.

VThe adjustable member 49 is of approximately the same 'cross sectionalcontour as the lower memberv41. In other words, it isrin the form of an essentially tubular body having a forward or front wall 50, side' wallsv51 and inturned spaced back wall flanges 52, the space beslidably extended into the upper end of the rst member 41;' bringing'"the"slots` l48 a`nd`48"int alignmentto "rel ceive a friction holding means which is generally designated 54 and which is in the form of a screw or bolt having the long shank 55 and the at head 56. As in the case of the screw or bolt 34, the head 56 of this second bolt is of suicient size o r diameter to span the slots 48 and 48' and the shank of Athe bolt is introduced through these slots V'from "the" front ofthe support and extends through'and beyond the aligned back slots 45 and 51 to receivea Wingnut 57, as illustrated. "The wing nut may be threaded or drawn up 4inthe shank 55 to bear directly againstv the flanges 44 of thefirst member 41 or preferably the shank 55 may have placed thereon metal washers 58'to position against'the inner side of the front wall 50 of the second member in opposed relation with the head 56, with a spacer sleeve 59 positioned on the shank to bear at one end against one of the washers 58 and having its other end extending rearwardly through the back slots 45 and 51 to receive 'on its ote'r'end the thrust of the wing nut.

the support can be relatively 'shifted to' elongate or to shorten the support as may be'desiied toy fit'it'to the securing element such as a screw orv the like, whicliis threaded into the top bar of the frame.

has a long slot formed therein as indicated at 48'. `This front slot 48tis ,approximately the 'same vwidth as the' El., c,

front'slot 48 and: one end' of the second 'member 49 is In this second embodiment of the invention it will be seen that the two walls 42 and 50 of thetwo'members are parallel vand positioned one against the otherl sothat when,- the support is mounted on theunderlying base or article of furniture theforward faces of these walls 42 and 50j can be placed at against the b ack ofl the'frarrne or in' sponding to'V- the bars "20 and v21 of the frame 118'.'

' In Figo. 1"the rst embodiment of thej support is shown with the lower portionof the first member I23 positioned with the' face of the wall 24 against the back of the article of furniture and securing screws are extended through the proper apertures 248- to4 engage in'the back edge of the top 12 of the article and in the bar 14 thereof. i f i "The frame 18 is positioned against the forward face of thewall 24 with the bottom bar 21 in position withrespectfto one of Vthe apertures 2 9 to receive a securing screw 62 which is extended'through the proper'aperture and the support is attached to the framerby loosening the4 binding'scr'ew or friction holding device S4and lsliding the second elongate member 30 upwardly orfdownwardly as may be necessary to bring the aperture38 inline with the top b'r 20 of lthe frame whereupon a' securing element such as a vscrew `63 is passed through the` aperture into the adjacent frame'part. The friction holding device 34 v may then be tightened'so as to'prevent a relative move@ nientbetween the parts 23 and 30.

Due tothe face that the second member 301isflat and y flexible, it will be seen that it may be readily bent tobring the aperturel 38 Vinto the proper position to receive the holding element 63, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

'The manner of employing the second embodiment or' the invention is essentially the sameas described in con-Y nection with the "first Holding screws64 are passed through the proper apertures 46 of-the first elongate member 41 and another holding element 65A isopassed through one of the apertures 47 for engagement bottom bar ofthe frarne`40. When the f rfictioril holding'element 54 is suiciently loosened, the member49 can be'adjufsted inthe upper end lof the member 41 to bring theaperture 601into 'the proper position withlrespect utof'the top' bar u of'fthe Aframe 40r to receive thesecuiinglsrew'or other securing element 66 after which'` thewing nut `571is'tight' ened It will be seen from this that by" loosening the wing nut the upper and lowe` 'members ofA contact with the upper and: lowerV bars thereof'` corre-- In this second embodiment of the invention the upper end of the wall 42 of the first member is also provided with an aperture as at 67, which may be aligned with the aperture 60 where the frame to be supported is of such height that this aperture 67 alone or the two apertures 60 and 67 may be used to receive the holding screw 66.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there is provided in the present invention in the two embodiments illustrated and described, a support which can be easily and quickly adjusted at its upper end or in the upper end portion thereof to fit frames of ditferent heights and also the device after being so adjusted and after having the two parts secured together by the friction holding means, provides a rigid mounting for the article to be set up.

While the invention has been illustrated as being used singly for the support of a framed body such as a mirror, obviously if the article to be supported is of material width, two of these supports may be mounted upon the back of the supporting base structure in spaced parallel relation to be secured in their upper end portions across the back of the wider article.

I claim:

1. A support for a frame for a body such as a mirror, picture and the like, said support comprising an elongate rigid iirst member, said first member being formed of a channel member having a flat back wall, longitudinal side walls, and inturned spaced anges bordering the side walls and forming a longitudinal slot opposite from the back wall, a second elongate member slidably inserted into one end of the first member, said second member being of the same cross sectional form as the irst member and relatively snugly fitting therein with the back walls of the members slidably engaging one upon the other, a releasable coupling binding together the engaged back walls and operable through the slots of the members to secure the second member in a position of longitudinal adjustment on and relative to the first member, means for facilitating securing both members to opposite side portions of a frame to be supported, means for facilitating securing the first member adjacent to the end thereof remote from the second member to a base support, the said two members having longitudinal aligned slots in the back walls thereof and said releasable coupling comprising a securing member having a threaded shank carrying a head on one end with said shank extending through said aligned back wall slots and projecting from the opposite side of the two members through the slots thereof formed by the inturned spaced flanges with the head of said securing member spanning the back wall slots and bearing upon the outer side of the back wall of the rst member, a sleeve loosely encasing said shank and having an end portion projecting through the slots formed by said spaced anges of the rst and second members and a nut threaded on the end of said shank and engaging the adjacent end of the sleeve for applying thrust through the sleeve against the inner side of the back wall of the second member whereby to frictionally clamp said back walls of the rst and second members together.

2. The invention according to claim 1, with friction members encircling the shank of said securing member and interposed between the other end of said sleeve and the inner side of the back wall of the second member and spanning the longitudinal aligned slots of the first and second members.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 963,000 Deihl June 28, 1910 1,631,355 Baldwin .lune 7, 1927 2,262,939 Howard Nov. 18, 1941 2,335,896 Anderson Dec. 7, 1943 2,598,531 Garrett May 27, 1952 2,783,367 Locke Feb. 26, 1957 2,904,290 Mullen Sept. 15, 1959 

